Operative anatomy of nerves encountered in the lateral approach to the distal part of the fibula.

We dissected fifty legs from twenty-six cadavera to determine the origin and frequency of nerves that crossed the line of a lateral approach to the distal part of the fibula. A branch of the sural or common peroneal nerve, or both, that was at least one millimeter in diameter crossed the line of the operative approach in eleven legs (22 per cent) and was within five millimeters of the anterolateral border of the fibula in twenty-seven legs (54 per cent). We recommend that a meticulous operative technique be used during exposure of the distal part of the fibula to prevent paresthesias or painful neuromas resulting from the inadvertent transection of these small nerves.

Complement activation products and factors influencing phagocyte migration in synovial fluids from children with chronic arthritis.

Synovial fluids from children with chronic arthritis were examined simultaneously for the presence of complement activation products and factors affecting phagocyte migration. The concentrations of C3a and C5a, but not C4a, were found to be elevated relative to normal plasma. However, the C3a and C5a concentrations in synovial fluid did not correlate with C1q binding values or with degree of migration inhibition or chemoattraction caused by that fluid. Although this data implies complement activation occurs in inflamed joints in juvenile arthritis, the specific role of immune complexes remains unproven.